Al Hilal head coach Jorge Jesus had high praise for Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of their friendly against Al-Nassr on Thursday (February 8).
Both teams are gearing up for their return to competitive action after this final friendly fixture of the winter break. Ronaldo, who had been sidelined with a muscle injury, is expected to make an appearance against Al-Hilal, providing a significant boost for the Riyadh-based team (via GOAL).
Ronaldo made the move to the Saudi Pro League in January 2023 after mutually terminating his contract with Manchester United. Since arriving in the Middle East, he has made a tremendous impact, attracting other stars like N’Golo Kante, Neymar, and Fabinho to join the league last summer.
Speaking about the legendary five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Jesus stated (via @TheNassrZone):
“Cristiano Ronaldo is a world-class player, and he has achieved a lot in his football career. Professionalism in Saudi Arabia has become crucial, and we need to portray a positive image of Saudi sports in front of Al Nassr.”
Ronaldo has been instrumental in his team’s success this season, contributing 24 goals and 11 assists in 25 matches across various competitions.
Currently sitting in second place in the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo’s team trails leaders Al-Hilal by seven points. Their first league match after the break is a home fixture against Al Fateh on Saturday.
